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Coaches in NY schools now mandated reporters of child abuse

Andrew Cuomo

New York state Gov. Andrew Cuomo speaks during a news conference in April. Today, he signed legislation adding school coaches to the list of mandated reporters of child abuse. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
(John Minchillo)

SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- School coaches will be added to the list of jobs required to report suspected child abuse to authorities, according to legislation signed today by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.

Previously, state law was unclear on whether coaches were mandated to report suspected abuse. Now the law clarifies that coaches who are paid employees of a school district have a duty to report suspected abuse, according to a news release from the governor's office.

The law requires coaches with temporary licenses or professional coaching certificates to complete two hours of training on child abuse.

As with all mandated reporters, coaches will be protected from civil liability resulting from reports that are proven unfounded, the release said.

The state's commissioner of education will create the regulations to implement the training. Coaches have until July 1, 2015, to complete the training.